[Explosive Advantage] Engaging in a Mental Battle with the Strongest Evil Spirit Since Birth, I Exceeded the Measurable Magic Limit – The Humble Conquest of the Cursed Child - Chapter 24

In Ame’s Room

“Kai-kun, good work today… shall we head back to our rooms?”

“Aye.”

After finishing their Resonance training with Kurita and having dinner, the two of them walked down the hallway toward their rooms.

Ame, who had briefly slipped into the persona of a typical little girl when she had her candy, had now returned to her usual composed demeanor.

At the end of the hall, the corridor split in two directions.

Kai’s room was to the left.
Ame’s was to the right.

Ame stood still, gazing down the corridor that led to her room.

“Well then, Ame-sa—”

Just as Kai was about to say goodbye and head to his own room—

“…Hey, Kai-kun.”

“Aye?”

“…Would you come to my room?”

“Eh…?”

(…Why?)

“…To continue our training. We’re allowed to do image training, remember?”

“Training, huh…”

(I mean, it’s not like I’m against it… but that’s something I can do in my own room. And I’m pretty sure going into someone else’s room is a no-go in this place… Hmm…)

As Kai hesitated—

(Huh?)

Ame reached out and gently pinched the hem of Kai’s shirt with her thumb and forefinger.

“…Please?”

She looked up at him, almost pleadingly.

(…She’s shaking?)

She was trembling—like she was afraid of something.

(Now that I think about it… sometimes Ame-san seems like she’s scared of something…)

“…”

(Well… kids born as yorishiro are already labeled as doomed troublemakers. If she’s being a little selfish… I think I can let it slide.)

“…Alright.”

“…—!”

As soon as Kai agreed, Ame’s expression visibly relaxed, a breath of relief escaping her lips.

And so, Kai found himself stepping into Ame’s room.

◇

“……………………”

Once they arrived, just as she’d said, Ame quietly began image training.

So the room remained silent.

They spent a long time in that silence.

“…Kai-kun, good work. Let’s take a little break.”

“Aye. You too.”

By then, they had been image training for nearly two hours.

At that point, Kai, feeling a little reflective, began speaking to Douma in his head.

(…Ame-san… she’s just a kid, but she trains so hard. Kurita-sensei’s session alone was more than enough for someone our age.
But she went right back to training in her room for two more hours…)

{You’re doing the same thing, though.}

(…Wait, what?)

Just then—

“…Hm?”

Noticing Kai looking at her, Ame tilted her head with a curious look, as if to ask, “What is it?”

So, Kai decided to ask.

“Um… Ame-san, why do you train so hard?”

“…!”

Ame’s eyes widened—just for a moment.

“Ah, sorry—if it’s too personal, you don’t have to answer…”

“It’s okay…
You came to my room even though I asked something kind of selfish, Kai-kun…”

(…)

“I want to become someone admirable… Because… I stole my mother away from my father.”

“…!”

That was the fate of a yorishiro child.
To be born into this world was to curse and kill their own mother.

Kai had, by rare miracle, avoided that fate—but he was the first in recorded history to do so.

Which meant that Ame, born before him, had not been an exception.

“They say the Yuki-onna Asane was one of the gentler irei spirits among the Eight Pillars… I heard the adults saying that after Asane left me.
They said I was lucky—as far as these things go.
When I heard that, I realized…
I really am… unlucky, aren’t I?”

(…)

Kai had no words.

“My father… he was always kind to me. Even though I… took my mother from him.
Apparently, it was my mom who gave me my name.
She wanted me to never lose to the snow.
So… Ame.
In the end, my attribute still turned out to be Ice, though…”

Ame continued quietly.

“Asane… she really was gentle, I think.
She never cursed people without reason.
But because of how beautiful she was, she kept attracting other spiritual beings.
And every time… my father risked his life to protect me.”

(…So that fear she sometimes shows—could it be trauma from all of that?)

“My dad… he’s a Class 5 Power-Class Exorcist… Cool, right? He’s amazing.”

“Ah, yeah… That really is amazing.”

“That’s why I want to become a great Exorcist too.
One who won’t bring shame to my mom or dad.
I want to break the pattern—the past that says yorishiro kids never amount to anything…”

“Let’s do it.”

“…!”

Kai, who had been quietly listening the whole time, suddenly spoke.

“Let’s become that—together.
The first-ever yorishiro child to truly make it big—that’ll be you, Ame-san.
And I’ll be the second one right after you!”

“……”

Ame’s eyes went wide.

Then, after a pause, she responded.

“…Kai-kun, you know…
There are a few yorishiro kids from the past who did manage to succeed.”

“Eh!? Seriously!?”

“Yup.”

(…That’s so embarrassing.)

Kai dropped his gaze in shame.

“…Hehe.”

(…Huh?)

Kai glanced up and thought he saw Ame smiling a little.

“…It’s nothing.”

Ame looked away, slightly flustered.

From that day forward, Kai and Ame continued their Resonance training under Kurita during their free time—for about two more months.

And then, one day—

“Kai-kun, Ame-san… You’ve both worked so hard, every single day up to now.”

Kurita stood before them with a proud expression.

“To be honest, I may not have even been necessary.
But I’m honored to have been a part of your journey.”

(…No way. He was anything but unnecessary.)

“That’s not true. Your advice was always clear and easy to understand, Kurita-sensei.”

(Coming to Seigoin… might not have been so bad after all.)

“Thank you, Kai-kun.
Then—Kai-kun, Ame-san…
Would you show me what you’ve achieved?
You could call it… a presentation of your progress.”

“Aye.”
“Yes.”

And so, the two prepared to showcase the results of their months of training.